Mudboat



July 7,- 1931. E. w. PHILLIPS MUDB OAT 1 Filed July 16, 1929 lililllllllllllllllllli 1a zm p Wi /213;

Q Q M Clbhomei Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES EDW'ARD \V. PHILLIPS, O F HUDSON, MICHIGAN MUDBOAT Application filed. July 16, 1929. Seria1 No. 378, 694.

culty has been experienced with the use of wooden runners since the ends of the runners are easily split and broken through contact with obstacles in the path of the mudboat. It also has been found difficult to provide the runners of the mudboat with upturned forward ends to properly guide the runners upwardly over uneven surfaces.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a runner end for mudboats which is simple and economical to manufacture and which may be quickly applied to the runners.

A further object is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which extends upwardly forwardly of the runners to guide the latter over uneven surfaces, and which is so arranged with respect to the runners as to protect the forward ends thereof against breaking and splitting.

A further object is to provide a device of the character referred to which may be formed of a single piece of material and readily clamped against the upper faces of the runners and which serves to reinforce and protect the latter against breaking and splitting.

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this shows,

Figure 1 is a side elevation,

Figure 2 is a plan view,

Figure 8 is a detail section on line 33 of Figure 2, and,

Figure 4 is a detail perspective of the runner end detached from the forward end of one of the runners.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a runner arranged on each side of a mudboat and connected to each other by a platform 11 secured thereto in any suitable 11131111813 In accordance with the usual practice, the runners 10 are preferablyformed of wood in order that weight may be saved and the device may be cheaply manufactured. The runners are preferably rectangular in cross section as clearly shown in'Figure 3'. I I

The device forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises arunner end 12 adapted to be connected to each of the runners and the runner end is preferably formed of malleable iron or steel in order that it may withstand the rough usage to which it is put. The body of the member 12 comprises rear and forward portions 13 and 1 1 respectively, the former of which is relatively horizontal and 'is provided with a channel 15 in its'lower face corresponding to and adapted to receive the upper portion of the forwardendof one of the runners. The provision of the channel '15 forms side flanges 16 which extend downwardly a slight'distance over the runners as clearly shown in Figure 3. The horizontal portion of the body 12 is provided with openings 17 registering with similar'openings 18 formed in the runner and adapted to receive bolts 19. Stove bolts are preferably employed for securing each member 12 to its corresponding runner, and the heads of the bolts are preferably countersunk in the runner as shown in Figure 3.

The forward portion of the body 12 extends upwardly at an angle, and'its'bottom face is preferably curved as at 201 This curved portion terminates at its lower end ina shoulder 21 -c0rre'sponding'in height to the thickness of the runner and adapted to be arranged against the forward end thereof. Accordingly itwill be apparent that the lower edge of the'shoulder 21 coincides with the lower forward'edge of the runner, as shown in Figure 1. The shoulder 21 is preferably slightly wider than the runner to afford protection thereto when the device isin operation.

The portion 14 of the body 12 is preferably cut away as at 22 in order that weight may be saved, and this cut away portion may extend forwardly as far. as desired. Provision of the cut away portion 22 forms reinforcing flanges 23 at the sides of the body 12. Each of the members 12 is provided adjacent its forward end with an eye 24 which is adapted for connection to suitable draft means whereby the mudboat may be pulled over the ground or other surface. 7

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description. The relatively long rear portion 13- of the body 12 formsefiicient means whereby each runner end may be secured to its correspondinglrunner, and the reception of the upper portion of the runner within the channel 15 tends to prevent splitting of the runner. Ordinarily such splitting is caused by contact between, the forward end of the runner and solid atstacles on the ground or, other surface, butsuch splitting is prevented by the provision of the shoulder 21 which contactswith the-end of the'runner. The; downwardly curved face 20, terminating ina lower edge: coinciding with the lower, forward edge of the runners causes the latter to be guided over uneven surfaces and objects in the: path of the mudboat, and accordingly contact, between solid obstacles and the. end of the runner is-prevented, and the runner is accordingly protected? against injury.

The device is simple in construction and cheap to manufacture, and readily may applied to: the mudboat. The mudboat readily may be pulled over the' surface of the ground by connecting draftmeans, such as cables, to the eyes 24 ofthe two-runner ends.

lit is tobe understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferredexampleof the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the inventionorthev scope of the-subjgoined claim;

lielaimz' A runner end for mudboats and the; like comprising an: integral body having, a hori zontalrear portion provided with alongitu'di-rn'al' channel inits lower face in which the upper face of the forward end oftherunner is adapted tobe:secured=,\the walls-of the'ch'annel defining flanges adapted to overhang the edge portions of the runner, said body being furtherprovided with a' forward portion the rear extremity of which is formed with a dependingshoulder adapted. forward end of the runner, said shoulderbe ing equal in height to and slightly wider than the runner, the lower face of said forward portion being curved upwardly from the lower end. of said shoulder to the forward extremity of said body.

In testimony whereof I affix. m signature.

EDWARD PHl ILLIPS;

to lie against the 

